(The Chirp) -- RHP
Shelby Miller, the 2009 top draft pick making his first major league
start, held the Cincinnati Reds hitless for 5 2/3 innings and finished a
six-inning stint allowing just a bloop single by shortstop Wilson
Valdez as the Cardinals scratched out a 1-0 win in the regular-season
finale. Miller fanned seven, those strikeouts exhausting only 23
pitches. "He had us eating out of his hand," Reds manager Dusty Baker
said. While Miller gave up one hit, he got his first two major league
hits, a double and a single, after going hitless in 27 at-bats at Class
AAA Memphis and one with the Cardinals this year. "I really couldn't
have asked for more," said Miller. "I'm thankful for the opportunity
that the Cardinals gave me. I know it wasn't the biggest game of the
year, but it meant a lot to me."

RHP Jason Motte recorded his 42nd save,
marking the first time in franchise history that one pitcher had
achieved all the team's saves. He also tied Atlanta RHP Craig Kimbrel
for the National League lead. "Pretty cool," Motte said of both
accomplishments.

1B Lance Berkman, batting for the first
time in nearly a month after undergoing his second right knee surgery,
tapped out as a pinch hitter. He was accorded a standing ovation in what
probably was his final at-bat with the Cardinals. Berkman, who still
hopes to be ready later in the postseason, said, "It was certainly a
nice sendoff but something I've come to expect from this crowd here, to
see the class these people have. The people are some of the best in the
world, and it's my privilege to have gotten to play here."

CF Jon Jay did not play Wednesday, which
meant he ended the season without a fielding error. He is hoping for
his first Gold Glove.

C Yadier Molina finished the season with
a .315 average, marking the first time a Cardinals catcher had led the
team in hitting in two consecutive seasons. Molina batted .305 last
year.

LHP Marc Rzepczynski, appearing in his
70th game, fanned Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto in the ninth inning. That
might have improved Rzepczynski's chances of staying on the roster for
the wild-card game Friday against Atlanta's lefty-dominated lineup.

Rookie SS Pete Kozma was the only Cardinals regular to start Wednesday's season finale.

BY THE NUMBERS: 88-74 -- Cardinals' final record, two wins fewer than when they won the World Series title last year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're not going to use
roster spots on starting pitching that we don't think we'll use." --
Manager Mike Matheny, on the team's plans to not add more than one or
two starting pitchers to the roster for the wild-card play-in game.